Joe Robert Rhoades

Joe R. Rhoades, 81, died on March 11 at home in Neptune, NJ surrounded by his loving family after a four-year battle with lung cancer.

Joe was born in National City, California to Robert Rhoades and Hazel Jennings. He grew up in San Francisco and graduated from Lincoln High School and Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in agricultural business management.

As a young man he traveled around the country working at a cattle ranch in Wyoming, a Green Giant factory, at a hamburger joint in New Orleans and park ranger. One of his jobs as a ranger involved finding and marking part of the Lander Cutoff for preservation as part of the Oregon Trail.

He later worked for the Navy before moving on to his career with Merrill Lynch which lasted until his retirement in 2011. Joe later became an operations manager there until deciding to become a financial advisor. He served his clients well for 30 years.

Joe met his wife Liz in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they both worked at the time and were married for 52 years. They moved to Middle Village in Queens where they lived for 50 years before moving to Neptune almost three years ago.

Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed fishing, finding new restaurants to try and Jersey Shore music especially Virago, the Paul Marino Band and Stringbean and the Stalkers.

In his later years, following the stock market was his passion. He was known for his kindness, easy going disposition and love of family.

Surviving are his wife, Liz; son Ben (Rachel) of Fort Lee, NJ; daughter Sarah (Varina) of Neptune City, NJ; granddaughter Violet of Fort Lee and sister Jan of San Francisco.

A memorial service was held on March 16 at the Jumping Brook Country Club. The family requests that donations be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Joe’s memory.

Services are entrusted to Jersey Shore Cremation, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manasquan, NJ.